The CT that wasn't to be, was - or ride 'em, cowgirl

The on again, off again, on again, off again CT of Micah's temporal bones was on, again.

Midmorning today when I found my cell phone (it was under the console in my car), there were two messages from Hackensack Radiology Group's office manager. Since I have had absolutely no luck whatsoever in my dealings with HRG, it was Steve's turn to try. He's much more patient and has a longer fuse much of the time (ten years of practice in dealing with me, he should have these skills down pat).

And it was ok to bring Micah in this afternoon, so we threw lunch together, hurried both kids through eating, and got ready to go.

Thea got balky at the idea of riding in the car for no reason other than to provide support to her little brother, the queen of the pre-preadolescent meltdown strikes again. So Steve and Thea got the shopping list, Micah and I programmed the GPS and off to Hackensack we went.

My comfort zone on the NJ Turnpike ends at Newark Airport; this was only my third time driving on my own above Exit 15 (first time in 2007, to Hackensack to USCIS or whatever Immigration is calling itself at the moment to be re-fingerprinted before going to China for Micah; second time in 2008, to go to Micah's ENT's office in Englewood).

We got to the outpatient radiology facility at 3:20 pm, got through the paperwork quickly - it was a bit of a hoot having the woman registering Micah to ask how long has he had this problem? Umm, how about since about day 41 or 42 in utero? It's a congenital defect, he didn't get mutilated by his barber, sweetie.

Despite spending an hour in the car talking about how we were going to have pictures taken for Micah's ears and there would be no owwies involved, when it came down to laying down and getting positioned for the test, Micah was upset so we had tears and snivveling to deal with. Rather than keep pushing him we went back out to the inside waiting area to get calmed down and ready for a second try. I used the "I'll do it first, then you try it" approach.

The second try started with me laying down, Micah sitting on my stomach and the tech using her controls to make the bed go up/down and back and forth. Despite agreeing to try it after I did it, Micah still wasn't thrilled, but we at least got him laying down and they did whatever initial check to check for positioning. More tears, wanting to go home, wanting Daddy, as well as willingness to give up the puppy dog promised him if he cooperated by laying still and quiet (my pediatric nursing professor said that bribes can be an effective tool, so bite me if you think otherwise.)

And then I decided to bag the lead apron, get on the bed with him and hold his hand and hold his chin up, using our Very Hungry Caterpillar stuffed animal to soften the pushing on his chin. Kudos to whoever came up with this toy idea, the curve of the catepillar back fits nicely under the three-year old size chin. Of all the useless stuff animals Micah owns, this was one who proved its worth.

The tech was ok with this unique and somewhat awkward set up and told me to watch my head as we moved in and out, and we were off. Giddy up and get it over with.

And it worked, at least that's what the technician said. No motion artifact blurring the images.

Score one for our team, no sedation needed!

The CT technician had the patience of a saint, for which I am eternally grateful. I am also glad she made no mention of the awkwardness of having to look at my rather abundant backside as I rode the scanner bed sidelying and sidesaddle while holding Micah's chin. A true professional focussing on the task at hand rather than the incidental ugliness that might accompany said task.
And she was good about me asking her no few than half a dozen times, "Are you sure that the images are ok?"

Micah was doling out high-fives and hugs to all as he got ready to leave and spent quite a bit of time saying how "big and brave" he was. He was very pleased with himself, and any memories of the tears and cowardice evaporated. We stopped to get his puppy at Barnes & Noble - he had picked one up a few weekends ago and I had ditched it at the cash register telling him it was broken and needed to go to the doctor.

And then we drove home, in near rush hour traffic, on the Turnpike and Route 1. And got a ticket for having the GPS unit on the windshield. Obstructing the view of the roadway. No good deed goes unpunished, at least in New Jersey, it seems. Bite me, Middelsex County.